Cv, U-Hi Triumphant

Central Valley passed the second-half test. University showed there’s no substitute for athleticism.

On the road for a rare Valley doubleheader at Joe Albi Stadium, both were ingredients for victory Thursday night.

CV was forced to play the second half of a Greater Spokane League game for the first time in more than a month after scoring six first-half touchdowns against each of three league foes.

Trailing 21-17 against Mead at halftime, the unbeaten Bears stopped the once-beaten Panthers with defense, special teams play and a late goalline stand.

“Dominating the defensive and offensive line was our plan going in,” said coach Rick Giampietri. “Obviously we didn’t execute in the first half.”

CV’s special teams, which had allowed a 96-yard kickoff return to begin the game, stopped Mead cold in the second half.

Once the team quit making needless penalties, the defense settled down.

Two interceptions, by Justin Folkins and Zac Scott, set up touchdowns. Three catches and a flanker reverse by Greg Papich keyed the offense for a 37-21 triumph.

“The first half was just mostly sloppy tackling,” said Giampietri. “It was good to see them come back in the second half and play solid defense.”

Late in the game Mead had first and goal at CV’s 4-yard-line. Stops by Marc Hinckley and the tandem of Colin White and Brandon Bouge backed them from the 1 to the 14.

University, which moved into third place with its 17-6 win over Rogers, may not be big, but the players are multi-sport athletes with resultant quickness.

Titans Chris McMurtrey and Brad Valkenaar, baseball pitchers as well as two-way football players, came up big on offense and defense.

They rallied to the point of attack immediately on defense, frustrating a Pirate team which had the league’s leading rusher and scored more than 30 points three times this year.

“They’re really playing well, aren’t they?” said Giampietri.

U-Hi hosts CV on Friday with a chance yet for a top four finish.

Knight girls too much

East Valley’s girls cross country victory at the Richland Invitational came at the expense of 4A schools.

The Knights scored 98 points, well ahead of runnerup Mead’s 160.

The Panthers are currently second in the Greater Spokane League. EV, ranked second in its state classification, runs in the 3A Frontier League.

“It’s almost too bad we didn’t move up,” said coach Nick Lazanis. “If we were 4A we’d have cruised. Instead, a team drops down. Oh, well.”

He was referring to Newport of Bellevue, currently the state’s top-ranked 3A team.

In Richland, twins Melissa and Melanie Frostad finished 9th and 13th in the flight race for first and second runners, but timed 19:21 and 19:27 respectively.

“They’re just tougher than nails,” said Lazanis. “Melissa didn’t run in the summer and we didn’t know we’d get her. Melanie ran 200 miles in the summer, but we didn’t know if she’d be here (at EV). It’s a heckuva windfall.”

In the next flight, Korinda Godwin and Crystal Gerky timed 19:49 and 19:55 for second and third.

Ann Marie Adams and Cara Smith also finished second and third in their flight with 19:54 and 20:17 times.

EV’s six runners are faster than all but three of Newport’s team using comparative times. They’ll resolve number one at state.

Showdown to Knights

Favored East Valley and upstart West Valley’s volleyball teams were unbeaten heading into Thursday night’s meeting.

Following three successive 15-7 triumphs, only the Knights remain.

The two schools had won on the road two nights earlier, EV beating Cheney and WV beating Clarkston, to set up the first-place Frontier League contest.

WV’s bubble burst as the first half of the league season came to an end.

Next Thursday, the league’s four teams begin again.

Nothing proved in soccer tilt

East Valley and Cheney took unbeaten records into their Thursday Frontier League contest.

They resolved little in the way of determining first-place following the 2-2 tie.

For every EV goal, by Kristin Carlson and Ashley LeGrant early each half, Cheney countered.

Louckses remain No. 1 Veradale youngsters Matt and Adam Loucks maintained their Pacific Northwest No. 1 seeding during the Fall Sectional Tennis Tournament in Eugene, Ore., Oct. 10-12.

The tournament included players from Washington, Oregon, British Columbia and Alaska.

Matt Loucks beat Jamil Al Agba from Bremerton, 6-4, 6-2 in the Boys 14-U singles final. He qualified for the Boys 14 National Indoor Championships in Chicago over Thanksgiving and will play in the World Championship in Miami in December.

Adam beat Joel Halberg of Eugene, 7-5, 6-3 in the Boys 12-U final. He recently returned from the Challenge Cup in Boca Raton, Fla. where he was one of 52 chosen to compete in a week-long event.

, DataTimes